Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-26
DASHED TO DEATH.
Terrible Accident on the Norfolk
and western.

The Lynchburg Virginian gives the
following particulars of the accident on
the Norfolk and Western railroad Thurs
day, mention OF which was made in our
Geographic columns yesterday:
The fifth section of eastern bound
Freight Train No. 8 was crossing the
bridge Gig Otter when all at once the
western span of the bridge was seen to
sway under the weight and motion of
the train, and in an instant to fall to
the bottom of the deep ravine with o
tremendous crash, carrying eight coal
gondolas down with it, and hurting
dozen or more human beings to what
seemed instant death TO oil, but which
some of them fortunately escaped.
Several bodies were still buried under
the dfJris of the bridge and cars when
our report closed. Following is the list
Of the killed and injured:
Killed: Hugh Toomey (white).
bridge-builder Thomas Nolan (white),
bridge-builder; Charles Williams
(white), bridge-builder; George Tram
BILE (white), bridge-builder.
Seriously injured: Samuel Bibb
(white), bridge-builder Howard
Brown (white), bridge-builder; Ro-
bert A. Lee (white), bridge-builder.
Immediately on the receipt OF the
news a wrecking train, with some of
The officers of theroad and several ply
sicians on board, was dispatched to the
scene of the wreck. The height of Big
Otter bridge is about sixty feet, and
the coal-cars which went through the
span are total wreck. The bridge was
being replaced by new iron structure,
under the superintendent of Captain
J. w. Goodwin, and it was probably
owing to a weakening of the supports
of the old bridge that the accident was
primarily due. Captain Osborne, con-
ductor in charge of the train, says that
he waited at the western end OF the
bridge fully twenty minutes, until he
received the signal to proceed. None
of the train-men were hurt. Captain
Goodwin had about fifteen men under
his supervision, and the victims are
from among their number.
Mr.. Thomas Nolan, one of the killed,
was son Ct Mr.. Andrew Nolan, n pro-
minent Irish citizen of this city.
Charles Williams had recently left
the Virginia Midland railroad, and was
from Floyd county.
George Tramble was from Balti-
more Hughey Toomey, from Corning,
n. Y. ; Howard Brown, from Goodies,
r. A. Lee, from Baltimore and Sam
uel Bib, from Arlington, Nelson
county.
The remains of Nolan and Toomey
were brought to- this city last night at
II o'clock. The others who were killed
are still buried beneath the dsbris.
Rev. Father Bowler went up on the
wrecking train to administer the last
rites of the Church to the dying.
The younger brother of Mr.. Thomas
Nolan was at work on the bridge near
his brother, and when the structure gave
way he made leap for life and landed
twenty feet or more beyond the falling
cars and timbers. He escaped without
a scratch.
LATEST FROM THE SCENE OF THE WRECK.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l
LYScHBURG, Va, March 25.-The
latest from the railroad disaster on the
Norfolk and Western road says that
Samuel Bib, of Nelson, one of the
wounded, died this morning. His body
was brought here this evening Lee
and Brown are at Lowry's, and neither
are expected to live. The body of
Williams was recovered to-day. The
body of Tramwell has not yet been
reached. Transfers are being made at
the scene Of the disaster of mails and
of nnesnnners Thrnnrh trains are not